Over lapping blogs

Fruitvale Station (DDDD) -  I had heard about this film, but I didn’t know the story. So many films I’ve been watching have been relevant to what is happening in the world today. I often have conversations with family, friends and people I meet that eventually touch on those subjects. We all have opinions on the direction in which the world seems to be going. We ask ourselves if the world is worse than things were.
In my opinion, with technology being what it is today, it makes things seem worse. There has and always will be crime. We now hear and see it sooner in this digital age.
We used to have to wait for police reports to be filed or for someone to call 911. People are filming things as they happen. We are being bombarded with everything via the Internet, smart phones, texts and those that still use a television to get their news.
I new it was only a matter of time before we would actually see someone shot on television and yesterday I saw a police officer roll over someone in his police car at top speed on television and another man shot accidentally by a police. Too many police officers are calling the draw of their gun an accident. ( Feel police are scared. They are not equipped with what is needed to deal with criminals mentally. It’s a kill or be killed mentality similar to the military.)

The first time I remember seeing any get killed on television was when six women jumped from the Rault Center because of a fire. Days later Mark Essex would be killed atop the Howard Johnson’s on Loyola Ave. Many years later, I would find out that Mark Essex was the cause of the fire which caused the death of the six women.
Fruitvale Station is based on a true story that may have been the first incident where people caught the incident with their cell phones. Cops held and brutally beat several black men, but one was killed. There was no justification for this.
I had no idea where this film was going, but I was not expecting that outcome.
Watching anything tragic is not easy to watch whether on the big or small screen. Some people grow up seeing this sort of thing often; it becomes second nature.

Coming soon:  Lincoln, Silver Lining Playbook, Django Unchained, ARGO, August: Osage County,

The rating system - (d) it’s okay, if you like the stars (D) worth a look, especially if you are a fan of the stars (DD) Great cinematography and costumes (DDD) good script, cinematography, (DDDD) Not to be missed (DDDDD) I highly recommend this film



Check out my other blogs:
http://ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com





Thanks for stopping by, and do come back again or become a follower. Remember to keep an open mind.

I'm on a roll with my movie watching.

Amoure (Love) (DDD) - This is a French film that I knew nothing about. It’s the story of an elderly couple that love each other, but when the wife becomes ill the story takes an interesting turn. At first I thought the film was going to be about Alzheimer’s and then it went in a different direction as the wife suffers a stroke and the husband takes on the responsibility of caring for her. There are quite a few surprises and some disturbing images, but this is definitely an interesting film, but watch it when you’re feeling happy. It can bring you down and make you think about getting old.

The Lone Ranger (DDD) - I was putting off watching this film, but I finally gave in. I like Johnny Depp, but in recent years, all of his roles seem to be the same. Ever since Pirates of the Caribbean I find the characters to be the same, but that’s just me. At first I thought perhaps this was a Tim Burton film. The stars were those he had worked with in several of his films. I do like Tim Burton and his dark side, but to my surprise this film was directed by Gore Berbinski and the music was by Hans Zimmer.
I was confused with the opening as we go into a museum. I am not a big fan of films that have narration or that tell the story in reverse. From time to time I have made exceptions, but its not always exciting to watch a film when you know how it is going to end. But if the story is told correctly, the journey that leads us to the end or perhaps beyond what we think is the end can be entertaining. Johnny Depp plays Tonto and Armie Hammer plays The Lone Ranger. This adaptation tells us how it all began. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson. There are some great realistic special effects which makes it a fun film to watch.

HER (DDD) - I had remembered seeing a preview for this film, but had totally forgotten the title. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix who hadn’t been in a film for a very long time. I believe he had even mentioned retiring at one point, but no one can really stay away from something that they enjoy. When you get a film that challenges your craft you definitely jump at the chance to play the role.
Joaquin plays a letter writer that starts an unusual relationship.
(This is the part I was talking about in my last entry. Do I give away the plot or do I let you discover it on your own? When it comes to films if I‘m not buying it or paying to see it in a theater, then I don‘t really care what its about unless I‘m in a mood.)
It’s definitely an unusual film that is worth a look.
The film was directed by Spike Jonez and also stars, Scarlett Johansen, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde and Chris Pratt.


Boyhood (DDDD) - I had figured with all of the hype that the film might not be that great. In Texas they really back their own so its only natural that they would praise a film whether it is great or not.
I was quite surprised. The film is really good and most of us can relate to different aspects of our own childhood. The film is unique in its story telling as its probably the first time an actor has played in their own aging since the film took 12 years to make. Also, what the actor is experiencing on the screen, he was experiencing for the first time.
It’s definitely worth a look, especially if you have any interest in film making.
The film was directed by Richard Linklater who brought us Slacker and Dazed and Confused, also great films.
Boyhood stars Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater, Richard Linklater’s daughter.








Coming soon:  Lincoln, Silver Lining Playbook, Django Unchained, ARGO, August: Osage County,

The rating system - (d) it’s okay, if you like the stars (D) worth a look, especially if you are a fan of the stars (DD) Great cinematography and costumes (DDD) good script, cinematography, (DDDD) Not to be missed (DDDDD) I highly recommend this film



Check out my other blogs:
http://ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com





Thanks for stopping by, and do come back again or become a follower. Remember to keep an open mind.

I should have been a film critic.

The problem is I don't like to give away too much of a movie. I also feel that the fact that a film is made deserves to be seen no matter what someone else things. Each individual has the right to say what they like and don't like. We all have different tastes so we can't please everyone.

The Monuments Men (DDDDd) - It’s funny how I select films to watch. In my regular collection there are films that I watch once a year and then there are those that I watch every two years or a greater span just so I can enjoy the film again.
Of course I had never seen The Monuments Men before, but with the recent attack on a museum I thought it was interesting that I would watch this film at that moment.
The film is based on a true story of a group of soldiers selected to protect the great works of art during World War II. The film stars Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville, Dimitri Leonidas and George Clooney who also directed the film.

Savages (d)-  I like films by Oliver Stone and since Blake Lively was in this film along with some other big names I thought I would really enjoy it. Perhaps I should watch it again, but on the first viewing I was not impressed.

The Kid With The Bike (DDDd)- My foreign film collection continues to grow. This is really a good film about a kid that is abandoned by his father because he can no longer take care of his son. The son searches for his father and when he sees his father has a job he thinks his dad will come back for him. His new guardian does her best to care for him, but he gets involved with the wrong crowd. It’s a touching film that makes you wonder why some people have kids when in reality they really don’t want them. The film stars Thomas Doret, Ce’cile France, Jeremie Rennier.

The Book Thief  (DDDDd)- Another foreign film. This film deals with a young girl during wartime in Germany as Jews are sent to concentration camps. A young girl is taken in by a family and her love of books takes her on a journey. The family takes in a border who is Jewish and they must keep him hidden or face the consequences. The film is filled with young love, adventure and heartache. The film stars Geoffrey Rush, Ben Sellnetzer, Emily Watson, Sophie Ne’lisse and Nico Lierscll.
The story is based on the novel by Markus Zusak. It’s directed by Brian Percival and the beautiful cinematography is done by Florian Bellhaus.

Lore (DDDD) This is the story of a young girl that must take on the responsibility of caring for her siblings when her parents are taken to a concentration camp. There are many surprises in this film. When you think you know what is going to happen, then something else happens out of the blue. Although tragic, this is one of the reasons why I like foreign films. They are true to real life. The film is written and directed by Cate Shortland and stars Saskia Rosendahl and Kai Malina.







Coming soon:  Lincoln, Silver Lining Playbook, Django Unchained, ARGO, August: Osage County,

The rating system - (d) it’s okay, if you like the stars (D) worth a look, especially if you are a fan of the stars (DD) Great cinematography and costumes (DDD) good script, cinematography, (DDDD) Not to be missed (DDDDD) I highly recommend this film



Check out my other blogs:
http://ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com





Thanks for stopping by, and do come back again or become a follower. Remember to keep an open mind.